A Lesson from Sadie: Don't Envy the Wicked

Mark Corbett

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NIV Proverbs 24:1 Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company;

Sadie and I were almost home from a pleasant, two mile walk in the fields east of our house. As we got ready to cross the one big road along our path, we saw two small dogs walking along the road. Sadie desperately wanted to go and play with them. She was pulling hard on the leash. She was panting and almost whimpering. She wanted to be free like they were. If we had been in the middle of the fields, I might have allowed it, but where we were it would have been very dangerous.

Without thinking, I said out loud, “Sadie, you probably think their life is better than yours, but it’s not.” (Do you ever talk to your dog as if it can understand?).

Immediately the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and showed me that I was often tempted to act, feel, and think like Sadie.

Sometimes we see people who in terms of worldly wealth, financial security, comfort, and luxuries are a lot better off than we are. We feel tempted to be envious and covet. We feel the pull to want to enjoy a type of “worldly freedom to play” that others have.

But Sadie’s life really is very good. She has a family who loves her. She is well fed and we never let her go hungry. We take her for walks, let her run off the leash when it’s safe, and play with her. And we protect her from dangers that she can’t understand. If Sadie knew what the lives of those “free to run anywhere” dogs were really like, she would never want to trade places.

Joy%2Band%2BSadie.JPG

Joy and Sadie

Of course, the analogy is not perfect. It’s true that even in this life, the peace, joy, comfort, and meaning we gain by taking up our cross and following Christ far outweighs the deceptive pleasures the world offers. Yet, the main reason we should not want to trade places with the worldly is not what’s going on now, but what will happen in the future. I'm not talking about what our lives might be like 5 years from now. I'm thinking about 500 and 5,000 years from now. We have much bigger reasons to not envy the wicked than Sadie does!

I would like to close with an ancient and powerful poem which addresses this same topic with great clarity:

NIV Psalm 73:1 A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, "How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?"
12 This is what the wicked are like-- always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

This post is slightly modified from a post which was first posted on my blog.
 

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NIV Proverbs 24:1 Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company;

Sadie and I were almost home from a pleasant, two mile walk in the fields east of our house. As we got ready to cross the one big road along our path, we saw two small dogs walking along the road. Sadie desperately wanted to go and play with them. She was pulling hard on the leash. She was panting and almost whimpering. She wanted to be free like they were. If we had been in the middle of the fields, I might have allowed it, but where we were it would have been very dangerous.

Without thinking, I said out loud, “Sadie, you probably think their life is better than yours, but it’s not.” (Do you ever talk to your dog as if it can understand?).

Immediately the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and showed me that I was often tempted to act, feel, and think like Sadie.

Sometimes we see people who in terms of worldly wealth, financial security, comfort, and luxuries are a lot better off than we are. We feel tempted to be envious and covet. We feel the pull to want to enjoy a type of “worldly freedom to play” that others have.

But Sadie’s life really is very good. She has a family who loves her. She is well fed and we never let her go hungry. We take her for walks, let her run off the leash when it’s safe, and play with her. And we protect her from dangers that she can’t understand. If Sadie knew what the lives of those “free to run anywhere” dogs were really like, she would never want to trade places.

Joy%2Band%2BSadie.JPG

Joy and Sadie

Of course, the analogy is not perfect. It’s true that even in this life, the peace, joy, comfort, and meaning we gain by taking up our cross and following Christ far outweighs the deceptive pleasures the world offers. Yet, the main reason we should not want to trade places with the worldly is not what’s going on now, but what will happen in the future. I'm not talking about what our lives might be like 5 years from now. I'm thinking about 500 and 5,000 years from now. We have much bigger reasons to not envy the wicked than Sadie does!

I would like to close with an ancient and powerful poem which addresses this same topic with great clarity:

NIV Psalm 73:1 A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, "How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?"
12 This is what the wicked are like-- always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

This post is slightly modified from a post which was first posted on my blog.
So true :)
 
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Godlovesmetwo

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My main envy is not peoples' situations or circumstances. What they are doing, where they are living, nor who they meet or how often they party.
Its just the money they have which gives them an earthly freedom. Freedom from the anxiety of worrying about bills that come round every year.
I know spiritual freedom, the freedom God offers by leading us away from the bondage of sin is the real freedom we need. But I am only human and your dog is only canine. As my dog says to me: "I'm only canine".
 
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pdudgeon

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NIV Proverbs 24:1 Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company;

Sadie and I were almost home from a pleasant, two mile walk in the fields east of our house. As we got ready to cross the one big road along our path, we saw two small dogs walking along the road. Sadie desperately wanted to go and play with them. She was pulling hard on the leash. She was panting and almost whimpering. She wanted to be free like they were. If we had been in the middle of the fields, I might have allowed it, but where we were it would have been very dangerous.

Without thinking, I said out loud, “Sadie, you probably think their life is better than yours, but it’s not.” (Do you ever talk to your dog as if it can understand?).

Immediately the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and showed me that I was often tempted to act, feel, and think like Sadie.

Sometimes we see people who in terms of worldly wealth, financial security, comfort, and luxuries are a lot better off than we are. We feel tempted to be envious and covet. We feel the pull to want to enjoy a type of “worldly freedom to play” that others have.

But Sadie’s life really is very good. She has a family who loves her. She is well fed and we never let her go hungry. We take her for walks, let her run off the leash when it’s safe, and play with her. And we protect her from dangers that she can’t understand. If Sadie knew what the lives of those “free to run anywhere” dogs were really like, she would never want to trade places.

Joy%2Band%2BSadie.JPG

Joy and Sadie

Of course, the analogy is not perfect. It’s true that even in this life, the peace, joy, comfort, and meaning we gain by taking up our cross and following Christ far outweighs the deceptive pleasures the world offers. Yet, the main reason we should not want to trade places with the worldly is not what’s going on now, but what will happen in the future. I'm not talking about what our lives might be like 5 years from now. I'm thinking about 500 and 5,000 years from now. We have much bigger reasons to not envy the wicked than Sadie does!

I would like to close with an ancient and powerful poem which addresses this same topic with great clarity:

NIV Psalm 73:1 A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, "How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?"
12 This is what the wicked are like-- always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

This post is slightly modified from a post which was first posted on my blog.

I like this verse: 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
it has my favorite two word phrase..."but God".
and with those two words everything changes and becomes clear.
 
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Mark Corbett

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My main envy is not peoples' situations or circumstances. What they are doing, where they are living, nor who they meet or how often they party.
Its just the money they have which gives them an earthly freedom. Freedom from the anxiety of worrying about bills that come round every year.
I know spiritual freedom, the freedom God offers by leading us away from the bondage of sin is the real freedom we need. But I am only human and your dog is only canine. As my dog says to me: "I'm only canine".

Yes, I'm also tempted to envy people who have more money which gives them the freedom to do some things which I can't. I know this isn't the right way to feel, but sometimes I catch myself feeling this way.
 
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Mark Corbett

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it has my favorite two word phrase..."but God".

Yes, "but God" verses are awesome, like this one:

Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-- by grace you have been saved--
 
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